I haven't found any new JVC yet that don't do discrete. Got any specific model numbers?

The mitsubishi will fire up and play with the start command. You have to press stop before the discrete off will work (safeguards recording). It has a discrete on as well.

I was quite surprised just now to discover my Orion VCR ($31 on an unusual sale at Walmart a couple years ago) does power on with the play button (only if it has a tape in it).

My Quasar, Magnovox, and Sharp VCRs do not power on with the play button.

I'm pretty sure none of these four have discrete On or Off commands.

The Quasar and Sharp VCRs were under $40 and the Magnovox was definitely low price, but I don't recall how low. So I think I have a selection of "cheap" VCRs.

A client just purchased one from a competitor and I installed it since we no longer sell VHS players. It was an entry level JVC. Tried my codes an no luck, I even tried HTMs codes and no luck. RCA and Sony I find are the more common ones, Panas I have found only half out there in the world do. We do not sell VHS so I am referring to all of my clients crappy crap. I hate VHS.

Maybe the reason why I have no luck finding a VCR to turn on with the play command is due to the fact that there is no tape in the machine? Is this a cause? I will try it now that you all seem to have better luck then I. But what happens when no tape is in it? Automation fails us then correct? Some VCRs turn on when a tape is inserted, some only turn on long enough to load the tape. I find there are to many variables in VCRs, so I just leave them on and send the stop command for off and the play command for on, yet I have never seen one turn on from the play, weird eh.

Yeti makes an excellent point here that I didn't consider.

I don't think I've ever tested my macro without a tape in the VCR. The irony of this is that the primary use I have for my VCR is to act as a third recordable TV tuner in my system. Very rarely, my wife and I watch a channel directly off the VCR tuner. If Yeti is correct--and I'm betting there's a good chance he is--my macro would fail if I was just trying to watch a channel on the VCR tuner when there's no tape in there.

Dale

Most Sony VCRs have discretes. You can probably find a real high quality unit for a reasonable price. I'm sure it's easier to find a good Sony than a good model of most other brands, since Sony is more common in the chain stores.

I find it both amusing and odd that the majority of VCRs have discretes and DVD players/recorders don't. Is this the perfect example of "the man" getting back at us. :)

Talk about one step forward and two steps back! Why don't we all just start buying Beta and 8 track players? HAHA



Thank you,
Damon DG
= = = = =
http://www.ProRemotes.com - Authorized Dealer & Remote Programming Services

That whole play command thing sounds funny, I just tried my Sony 795 and it did not turn on with PLAY, even with a tape.

I second the sony reccomendation, it wil be bullet proof for less than $75.

Thanks everyone,

I will go with the cheap Sony.

I think he meant DVD/VCRs. Like the HRXVC27U.


Real High Quality and consumer VCRs are two terms that do not coexist. Sony in particular has not made a VCR for consumers in many years. They went to Funai for manufacturing.

Consumer VCRs are all throwaways. Period.

Tom,

I agree that VCRs are severely lacking in quality in general, but when looking for one that's going to be readily available and on the good/better/best level, Sony will likely be the most available...like an SVHS model or something like that. When I said "high quality", I was speaking in relation to other readily available options and the value of those options by comparison. :)



Thank you,
Damon DG
= = = = =
http://www.ProRemotes.com - Authorized Dealer & Remote Programming Services